Gasoline pump



Oct. l, 1929. F. c. MEsERvE 1,730,330

GASOLINE PUMP Filed March 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY Oct. l, 1929. F C, MESERVE I 1,730,330

GASOLINE PUMP Filed March 21, 192,7 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 IN VEN TOR.

MQW/, Wil/zml /wdu/ ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES FORREST C. MESERVE, 0F SALEM, NEW

HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD MESERVE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COPARTNERSHIP CONSIST-A ING OF FRANK E. UNDEEWOOD, OF NEWTON CENTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND FOR- REST C. MESERVE, OF SALEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE GASOLINE PUMP Application led March 21, 1927. Serial No. 177,082.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing fluids in measured quantities, and is particularly applicable to gasoline pumps such as are used extensively in supplying automobiles with gasoline. l

It can howeverbe as readily used for dis- -pensing lubricating oil for automobiles.

As is Well known, gasoline is generally distributed from tanks sunk in the ground from which it is drawn by means of a pump'which is usually manually operated though it may be operated by power, and from this pump it is forced through a flexible hose, at the free end of which is a nozzle. v

This nozzle is put in the opening of the tank and a 'certain number of gallons of gasoline are pumped from the tank through the hose into the automobile tank.

After the required amount has. been pumped by means of power there is a considerable quantity left in the hose and the operator must lift the hose from the pump end to the free end in order to empty it.

The chief objects of my invention are, to provide a fluid-dispensing apparatus with a nozzle-closure, automatic to close the dispensing conduit when flow therethrough ceases, with closing pressure sufficient to prevent leakage even of low viscosity fluids such as gasoline, but which nevertheless offers negligible resistance to the fiow of fluid as soon as the closure pressure is overcome by the initial effort applied by operation of the,pumping apparatus. By such means, the usually flexible dispensing hose is kept always full of fiuid, and the hitherto usual expedient of draining the flexible hose by lifting it, is dispensed with.

Other advantages of this device are that the liquid is accurately measured and where the gasoline tank of a truck or automobile is higher than the pump there is no loss of the liquid in the hose because the liquid is held there.

It also prevents or reduces spilling of gasoline on the automobile7 and in case of accidental fire the liquid in the hose is kept from flowing on thel ground. It also provides a receptacle to receive and contain such small uantities of liquid as may be forced past the c osing valve while the apparatus is not in use; such expulsion of liquid is likely to take place if the liquid in the apparatus becomes warmed and expands.

In order to assure tight closure of the dispensing conduit in the intervals between uses of the apparatus, a check'valve for the purpose requires not only a tight seat but a substantially powerful closer, usually a spring. Since a valve spring of the ordinary character is at its minimum stress when the valve is closed, and exerts increasing lstress in the direction of closure as the valve retreats from its seat, the effort required tostart the valve from its seat will have to be maintained, and increase to effect the desired full rate of discharge of fluid from the conduit. Therefore I provide what may, for purposes of definition herein, be termed a diminishing resistance conduit closure, that is to say, one in which the factor which supplies the closure pressure operates with diminishing effect on the valve itself as the latter recedes from its seat. Though the valve closing vspring itself may be increasingly stressed as the valve opens, this diminishing effect on the valve itself may be produced by any device which makes the spring act with decreasing advantage upon the valve.

For example, one may use the type of valve operated by a spring and toggle joint and having an annular by-pass shown in the first four views of the drawing, as this offers negligible resistance to flow of fluid when the valve is fully raised from its seat, although, by reason of the toggle arrangement when the valve is closed it is closed very tightly, with suflicient pressure to prevent leakage.

I also prefer to associate with a diminishing resistance valve closure, exemplified by a spring actuated toggle joint, a valve disc which rests on anannular seat, the opening through which is much smaller than the disc, and a cylindrical dise guide through which the disc must travel before the valve is fully opened. Toward a pointwhere the toggle joint arms pivoted to the disc make an obtuse angle with each other instead of an acute angle. By employing a valve and seat of this character, the effective valve4 area on which initial valve opening pressure is exerted by the pump through the column of fluid is relatively small, whereas the eHective valve area materially increases when the valve makes its initial start from the annular seat; thus the operating effect exerted at the pumpl mechanism is relieved by this means, as well as by the diminishing counter-effect of the resilient closure device as above described. l

. Furthermore, by providing a cylindrical bearing,`in which the valve disc functions as a piston during the first part of its movement away from the seat, and by extending said cylindrical bearing to such a distance from the valve seat that when the valve emerges from the cylindrical bearing and thus provides passage for full flow of fluid past the valve, the diminishing resistance of the resilient valve closure devices will have reached so low a value that the velocity-pressure of the fluid flowing past the valve and exerted on the valve will amply suilice to keep the valve itself at full and free opening. While the valve disc is functioning as a piston, within the confinement of the space surrounded by the cylindrical bearing, substantially full static pressure of the fluid is available to lift the disc and overcome the counter-effort of the valve closure at positions when the resistance of the latter is at its higher values; were-there no such cylindrical bearing, or if it were too short, so that the fluid were allowed to flow past the valve be- 'fore the diminishing resistance closure were substantially enfeebled, the release, or drop, of effective valve-opening pressure due to permitted flow past the valve would so reduce the energy available for valve-lift in relation to the counter-pressure exerted by the closure devices, that the flow-opening would 'be constricted, delivery of fluid retarded, and

the required sustained effort at the pump actuating adjuncts increased. Under such con-- ditions also, the valve disc itself would be liable to chatter.

The air vent valve ordinarily located at the end of the hose where it connects with the pump should be dispensed with, for the reason that it is of advantage to keep the con'- duit full of fluid during intervals between operations.

In the drawings, which show an exemplification of my invention Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the supply tank, automobile tank, pump, hose nozzle and valve diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of an automatic check valve and a diminishing resistance valve closer with the adjacent parts of the hose and nozzle.

Fig. 3 is a plan showing the spring arrangement for the toggle joint illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line %4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another modification.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another modification.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the governing valve clapper. 4

Fig. 9 shows a section of my preferred type of connecting cable.

In the drawings, T is the supply tank which by means of a supply pipe 5 is connected to the pump B.

A represents the automobile tank having the filling hole l0.

2O represents the handle of pump B, the other details of construction not being shown.

C represents the iiexible hose connected to the pump at 39 and having lthe free end 30 into which entiers the reduced end 33 of valve casing H. At its other end valve casing H is threaded at 34 to receive the threaded end 40 of nozzle F. Preferably there is a shoulder 41 on nozzle F vbetween which and the end of valve H is a thin gasket 42.

Nozzle F also is formed with a bridge 46 which carries the outside end toggle pivot 43.

Valve casing H has a bridge 50 in which is a. stem guide 51 through which slidably passes the valve stem 52. Y

This valve stem carries the valve disc 56 and also the gasket 54, preferably of leather. A ground valve disc, accurately fitting to its seat, may serve, but a slightlyk compressible gasket or washer at the seat is preferable.

The valve casing is enlarged at 57 and thence is narrowed down to form a cylindrical disc guide 55, the diameter of which is preferably slightly larger than that of valve disc 56, thence is reduced still more to form an annular valve seat 53, which is substantially smaller than disc 56.

By this arrangement it will be seen that the area of the disc on which fluid pressure can be exerted when the disc is seated is substantially less than the area of the entire endsurface of the disc, which is accessible to said fluid pressure immediately after the disc has been unseated. It will also be seen that valve disc 56 can be readily seated by the increasingly effective action of the springs 66 67, operating through the toggle-frames 60, 6l, 62, 63, since any liquid, such as gasoline, trapped between thc seating side of the disc and the column of liquid in the hose or conduit can pass between the cylindrical side of the valve disc 56 and the disc guide 55.

In the illustrated construction, I use a toggle joint K including the four arms 60, 6l, 62, 63 pivoted at the outlet end at 43 on bridge 46, and at the inlet end at 48 on valve disc 56.

' Between the other two pivots 64 and 65 I provide tension springs 66 and 67.

As shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the 4 pressure and Will therefore only Very slightly resist the flow of the gasoline. When the valve disc 56 starts from its seat, the valve closing effort of the springs 66 and 67, applied to the disc through the toggle joint or frame K is at its maximum value, and remains at a high, though diminishing value during the initial stages of movement of disc 56 away from the seat 53. But, while the valve disc 56 is functioning as a piston ,within the cylindrical guide 55, the flow of fluid past the valve, permitted by slight clearance between the disc 56 and guide 55, is practically nil, and therefore substantially full static pressure of the fluid is available to overcome the counter-resistance exerted by the closuresprings. This counter-resistance diminishes in effect on the valve as the latter rises, and the progressive collapse of the toggle frame K will have proceeded so far that when the valve disc 56 emerges from the confinement of the cylindrical bearing to permit free flow of fluid past the valve, the closure springs will be acting at such disadvantage to oppose the valve-opening as to render the 'velocity pressure of the fluid amply suiiicient to complete the collapse of the toggle frame I-as to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2 and to sustain the valve in position to afford full and free flow of fluid.

When the pump pressure ceases, they will act relatively feebly at first but forcibly at the end, to reseat valve disc 56 and its gasket 54 on the outlet seat 53, and will thus ensure i a closure joint and the hose full of gasoline thereafter.

As disc 56 'is closely confined in cylindrical disc guide 55, and as it is larger than the opening ofv valve seat 53, after the initial pressure against it overcomes the greatest pressure from the toggle joint, the toggle joint will flatten so that it will exert relatively little pressure while'active pumping is going on, but will exert its greatest pres,- sure when forcing disc 56 home on its seat.

In Fig. 5 I show a valve L divided into an inlet section and an outlet 71 including a nozzle 171, by longitudinal partition 69 in which is a ground valve seat 72 for the disc 73 of a valve having a stem 74 which projects out through the side through a stem guide 75. The spring 76 between the casing and the valve disc keeps this normally closed.

It will be observed that with this type of valve the stem 74 will project through the casing a greater extent while the gasoline is being pumped than when the pumping stops. In fact with this type, the stem can be used to make sure that the valve is completely seated, by pressing it in with the lingers.

In Fig, 6 I show a valve M in general the same as I-I having a seat 53 on which rests the disc carried by stem 81 and having also a spring guide 87 to hold the compression spring 84 in place. The other end of and the outlet.

spring 84 is held in place by a boss 83 on a bridge 82 which extends across the outlet of valve M.

In Fig. 7, P represents a pump having a base 90 which may rest upon the ground, and a barrel 91 in which operates the piston head 195 having any usual type of pump check valve 196 which together with foot check valve 93 in supply tank 92 may be of any usual pump construction.

Piston head 195 is'moved up and down in piston 91 b piston rod 94 operated in any usual way 5y a hand crank 95.

Near the top of barrel 91 I fix the annular member 101 having the weighted clapper 102 pivoted at 103 and connected near the pivot at 104 with the cable 100 which runs up and through the delivery pipe 96 to a check valve member between delivery nozzle 97 and the end of a flexible hose 96.

This check valve includes a seat 98 and a head 99 carried' by stem 199 connected to the Aend of cable 100.

It will be seen that when the handle 95 is turned thus lifting piston head 195, as bar rel 91 is kept full of liquid, such liquid Will be forced up through ring 101 lifting the weighted clapper 102 which in turn will tend to push head 99 from its seat 98 assisted by the force of the liquid in hose 96 and the oth` er parts, allowing the liquid to flow freely.

When the movement of handle stops and thus pressure on the liquid is released, the weighted clapper '102 will drop into place thus pulling on cable and closing the valve R.

Since the clapper 102 rises from a horizontal position, turning on pivot 103, it is apparent that the weight represented by the clapper operates with diminishing vertical component of pull on the cable 100, and thus constitutes another example of a diminishing resistance valve closure in its effect' upon the valve near the nozzle end of the conduit.-

It will be observed that the check valve in all the illustrations above described is spaced back from the delivery end of the nozzle piece which forms part of the uid conduit, so that there is an enclosed space between the valve When, as is usually the case, the conduit portion of the apparatus is hung up with its delivery outlet pointed upward, if the liquid which, by reason of the check closure of the valve, forms an uninterrupted column from the valve back through the conduit-to the usual foot valve of the pump, expands, as it will, if it is warmed by the sun, a portion of it will forcethe valve open and pass into the nozzle portion, the valve closing just as soon as the expansion pressure is relieved. That portion of the nozzle between the valve and the delivery outlet provides a receptacle for such expressed liquid and holds it so that it will not run out on to the ap )aratus or on to the ground. If the liquid which v receptacle to be filled before inserting the nozzle upside down into the tank aperture.

The above-described operation of the check valve in allowing liquid under expansion pressure to open it will not interfere with the function of the whole assemblage in keeping the fluid dispensing conduit always full of liquid, for, should the contained liquid be cooled and thus contract, the foot valve of the pump will respond and allow enough liquid to be sucked up through it to compensate for the contractionof the column of bath.

The mode of operation of the apparatus above described, and the relationship of its component factors will be understood from the description; its practical advantages are inherent to the action and reaction between the actuating mechanism of the pump, and the conduit closure at or near the delivery orifice, which is characterized by the-automatically acting diminishing resistance valve closer, exemplified by the tension-spring and toggle frame adjuncts shown in the drawings. The only pronounced effort required is momentary, and at the beginning of operation of the pump actuator, which usually is handdriven. This momentary effort unseats the closure valve, and at the same instant-imposes increasing disability to resist flow upon the diminishing-resistance valve closer. The substantial increase of valve disc surface, against which the fluid pressure is exerted, available immediately after the valve is unseated, contributes to the diminution of effort required to actuate the pump. After the valve is unseated, the operator of the pump will hardly be conscious of any more effort than that required to Work such pumps with the unobstructed conduits heretofore generally employed. When pumping ceases, the

valve immediately moves to its seat, the effectiveness of the closureincreasing to maximum at valve-seatlng position, being then sufficient to secure tight closure, retaining a full conduit, ready for the next delivery. The precise location of the valve in the conduit is not essential, the nearer it is to the duit, a check valve in said conduit and a resilient diminishing resistance valve closer.

2. In fluid dispensing apparatus of the type indicated, the combination of a pump and its actuating adjuncts, adelivery conduit, a check valve in said conduit, and a resilient member and a toggle frame, in conjunction constituting a diminishing resistance valve closer.

3. In Huid dispensing apparatus of the type indicated, the combination of a pump and its actuating adjuncts, a delivery conduit, a check va`lve in said` conduit, a seat therefor excluding a substantial portion of the valve surface from fluid pressure'when the valve is seated, and a resilient diminishing resistance valve closer.

4. In Huid dispensing apparatus of the type designated, the combination of a pump and its actuating adjuncts, a delivery conduit, a disc check valve in said conduit, a seat therefor covering a substantial portion of the disc face when the valve is seated, and a resilient member and toggle frame in conjunction constituting a diminishing resistance valve closer.

5. In fluid dispensing apparatus vof the type indicated, 'the combination of a pump and its actuating adjuncts, a delivery conduit, a check valve in said conduit and a resilient diminishing resistance Valve closer, and a cylindrical bearing in which thervalve is confined during the initial stages of Withdrawal from its seat.

(i. In fluid dispensing apparatus of the type indicated, the combination of a pump and its actuating adjuncts, a delivery conduit, a check valve in said conduit, and a resilient member and a toggle frame, in conjunction constitutinga diminishing resistance valve closer, `and a cylindrical bearing in which the valve is confined during the initial stages of withdrawal from its seat.

7. In fluid dispensing apparatus of the type indicated, the combination of a pump and its actuating adjuncts, a delivery conduit, a check valve-in said conduit, a seat therefor excluding a substantial portion of the valve surface from fluidA pressure whenv the valve is seated, and a resilient diminishing resistance valve closer, and a cylindrical bearing in which the valve is confined during the initial stages of Withdrawal from its seat. 8. In fluid dispensing apparatus of the typeudesignated, the combination of a pump and its actuating adjuncts, a delivery conduit, a disc check valve in said conduit, a seat therefor covering a substantial portion of the disc face when the valve is seated, and a resilient member and toggle frame in conjunction constituting a ldiminishing resistance valve closer, and a cylindrical bearing in which the valve is confined during the initial stages of withdrawal from its seat.

F ORRESTl C. MESERVE. 

